My first job was teaching at the Bureau of Jewish Education in Los Angeles. I taught in their high school program and I knew that I was one of the luckiest people in the world because, at that moment, I knew precisely what I would do with the rest of my life. Since then, I have had many fancy titles bestowed on me. However, at the heart of each title was what I really do: Teach!

Teachers fill so many roles in the lives of their students. We are friends, professors, mentors, and coaches. What exactly does it mean to be a coach? The definition is “to instruct, direct, or prompt.” Coaching allows for an intensely personal connection and opens the door for those teaching to give helpful advice. The idea of coaching helps to form bonds that go beyond education. It is about friendships and being there for the other person to bring out their very best. I have always found that you never diminish your light when you bring out the light in others. The Talmud supports the idea that a person has the potential to be jealous of everyone other than their children and their students
(Sanhedrin 105b).

Our new PLC, Coaching Aspiring Teachers, will provide the necessary training to bring out the best and brightest teacher candidates. However, what we are most excited about is what happens after seminars. We will provide personal one-on-one support to each new teacher as they begin their journeys. Just as each new teacher will become a coach for their students, we will be coaches who listen and provide connection to new teachers. Coaching allows for a deeper connection than what happens in a seminar. It is about listening and genuinely committing unselfishly with your whole being.

Know that there is a joy in working with students that is truly magical. Register now, tell your friends about Coaching Aspiring Teachers, and be prepared to make a difference in students’ lives.

Alissa C Zuchman, Ph.D.

Director